In a diabolical incident, a man murdered his 10-year-old niece as a human sacrifice to cure his brother of paralysis on the behest of a black magic practitioner in the outskirts of Bengaluru. The Ramanagaram district police arrested the girl's uncle Mohammed Wasil, 42, who is a secretary of a local mosque, Rasheedunissa, 38, Naseem Taj, 33, and a juvenile on charges of murdering her on March 1.

Wasil was advised by one Naseem Taj, a resident of Goripalya, who allegedly practised black magic, the police said. Taj told Wasil he needs to sacrifice a minor girl within 40 days to cure his brother of paralysis. She said that his brother Mohammed Rafiq was "gripped by evil spirits."

On March 1, Ayesha was kidnapped by Wasil and the boy. The juvenile was the last person seen with Ayesha. After interrogating Wasil and going through his call records he confessed to murdering Ayesha.

"The accused took her to a tomb on Hosahalli road and slit her throat after performing a ritual," said Ramanagaram SP Ramesh Bannoth. He then stuffed her body in a gunny bag and disposed it.